Combating Workplace Discrimination: The Power of Diversity, Inclusion, and Empathy
Did you know 3 in 5 employees have witnessed or experienced workplace discrimination?
Discrimination is the unjust treatment of an individual or group based on protected characteristics (i.e., personal traits) by an organization, or authority figures within an organization. For example, discrimination is exhibited when a worker gets promoted due to their gender. Or when an employee gets fired due to her religion.
Unsurprisingly, workplace discrimination can have detrimental effects on individuals and organizations. Whether based on gender, race, or other characteristics (e.g., ethnicity, religion, age, or disability), discrimination can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and shame for those who experience it. It can also lead to reduced productivity, higher turnover, and a tarnished corporate image.
In this article, we explore the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and empathy in combating workplace discrimination, and highlight how to build a better workplace culture.
Impacts of Workplace Discrimination
According to a study by Glassdoor, 61% of employees have witnessed or experienced workplace discrimination, with age (45%), race (42%), and gender (41%) being the most common forms of it. The cost of workplace discrimination is significant; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received over 60,000 charges of workplace discrimination in 2021 alone! Note: That resulted in over $350 million in monetary dispensation for victims.
Besides legal implications, workplace discrimination can have a significant impact on an employee’s well-being. When individuals experience unfair treatment, it can trigger feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and despair. These side effects can be manifested through mental health issues, increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and decreased job satisfaction.
Moreover, discrimination can create a hostile work environment, affecting team dynamics and lowering morale.
The consequences of an unfair workplace can be costly and disruptive to the organization’s reputation. Therefore, it is important to create an inclusive workplace that embraces equity, or the fair treatment of all workers.
Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace can have numerous benefits, such as improved employee engagement, higher productivity, and increased innovation. According to Builtin, companies can even enjoy 2.3 times higher cash flow per employee.
Another significant advantage is increased employee engagement. When employees are treated fairly, they are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and connection with their colleagues.
A diverse and inclusive workplace fosters a wider range of ideas. Research indicates diverse teams outperform individual decision-makers 87% of the time. This is because a diverse group brings a variety of perspectives and experiences, leading to more innovative solutions.
Furthermore, embracing diversity widens the talent pool from which a company can choose from. For example, if a company only hires men, they are missing out on the talent and qualifications of over half the civil labor force made up of women. By seeking diversity in hiring practices, companies can tap into a broader pool of candidates. They would potentially find more qualified individuals than they would by only considering a narrow range of applicants.
Source: Pexels
Building a Better Workplace
Upholding a few best practices can help create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environment.
Organizations ought to communicate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through their mission statements, values, and policies. This message should be shared and reinforced at all levels.
Organizations should consider evaluating their hiring practices to ensure they are attracting and assessing a diverse pool of candidates. This could include verifying that interview questions are equitable; considering alternative educational and professional backgrounds; and ensuring that job descriptions are free of discriminatory language.
Training is an essential tool for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. This could include manager and non-manager-specific workshops on topics, such as cultural competence, implicit bias, and inclusive communication.
Organizations ought to create opportunities for all employees to share their perspectives and ideas. Employee resource groups, diversity councils, or feedback mechanisms are ways to encourage all employees to share their thoughts and ideas.
Furthermore, organizations ought to establish clear policies and procedures that promote equity as well as procedures for reporting and addressing incidents of discrimination or harassment.
Leadership ought to be held accountable for setting diversity goals, evaluating progress, and promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives.
By implementing these best practices, organizations can create environments that celebrate differences, promote equity, and, ultimately, benefit employees.
The Power of Empathy
Empathy is an essential skill allowing professionals to understand and connect with others’ experiences, perspectives, and emotions. Practicing empathy in the workplace can create a culture of inclusivity and understanding that promotes respect, acceptance, and empowerment. HR professionals and employers can develop empathy by educating themselves on social justice issues, building cultural competence, and practicing active listening.
As discrimination continues to be a prevalent issue, HR professionals and employers must take necessary action to address it. One powerful tool for combating workplace discrimination is anti-discrimination training, which offers a way to educate employees on discrimination, prejudice, and unconscious bias.
How Virtual Reality Training Can Help
In our previous Medium article, we discussed the significance of empathy in the workplace and how it can be enhanced through virtual reality (VR) training. While traditional forms of training, such as lectures and online modules, can be informative, they may not necessarily evoke an emotional response or encourage a deeper understanding of others’ experiences.
To effectively educate employees, businesses can try VR training to address workplace discrimination as well as promote diversity and inclusion.
Through realistic scenarios allowing employees to experience different perspectives, VR programs can help individuals develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the impacts of discrimination.
Additionally, VR training can provide a safe space for employees to practice inclusive behaviors and learn from any mistakes.
In conclusion, discrimination can impact job satisfaction, causing employees to feel undervalued, underappreciated, and disrespected. High turnover rates can be expensive for organizations, as they incur costs associated with recruitment, training, and lost productivity. News of discrimination can also spread, damaging the organization’s brand and leading to negative publicity. This can lead to a decrease in customers, partners, and even potential employees. Besides external consequences, organizations may also face legal consequences, resulting in costly legal fees and damage to a company’s reputation. Therefore, to create a culture of tolerance, respect, and acceptance, employees ought to consider critical initiatives, such as the implementation of anti-discrimination training.
In our next article, we will uncover the potential of immersive learning in creating a hostile-free workplace. We will also discuss how you can convert your anti-discrimination training from the classroom or online to VR. Stay tuned!
At Sisu VR, we create immersive and interactive experiences to build empathy and prevent discrimination in the workplace. Book a demo to learn how our VR training can benefit your organization!
